American Music Festival will feature Daughtry, Barenaked Ladies, Robert Randolph

Barenaked Ladies will be part of the American Music Festival at the Virginia Beach oceanfront.

Photo courtesy of Brickell & Partners Public Relations

Photo courtesy of Brickell & Partners Public Relations

Sam McDonald

This year's American Music Festival, happening Labor Day weekend in Virginia Beach, will a feature a host of big bands including Daughtry, Barnenaked Ladies, Smash Mouth and Robert Randolph and the Family Band.

Festival performances take place on or near the beach. Headliner shows require tickets, but other concerts included in the festival will be free. Expect more announcements filling out the event's schedule.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The 20th Annual Verizon Wireless American Music Festival will feature three major headline bands on the 5th Street Main Stage between Aug. 30 and Sept. 1. Third Eye Blind, Barenaked Ladies and Daughtry will bring the combination of popularity, youth and plenty of hit songs to this milestone year. Given the Festival’s unique environment and fan-friendly pricing, this year’s lineup is anticipated to result in strongly attended shows each day.

Daughtry is an American rock band from North Carolina, formed and fronted by American Idol Season Five finalist Chris Daughtry. Their self-titled debut album was released in November 2006. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, went on to sell more than four million copies in the U.S., and has been certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA. Daughtry was also named the best-selling album of 2007 by Billboard, becoming the fastest-selling debut rock album in Soundscan history. The album produced four Top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including top five hits ";It's Not Over"; and ";Home."; The band's second album, “Leave This Town,” was released in July 2009. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming Daughtry's second No. 1 album in the U.S. To date, “Leave This Town” has sold more than 1.3 million copies in the U.S. and has been certified platinum by the RIAA. The album’s lead single, ";No Surprise,"; became the band's fifth Top 20 hit on the Hot 100. Their third studio album, “Break the Spell” was released in November 2011. It debuted inside the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and has been certified Gold by the RIAA. To date, Daughtry has sold more than 6.7 million albums and more than 12.4 million digital tracks in the U.S.

Fuel opens the show, continuing a long relationship with Daughtry. Chris Daughtry performed Fuel’s song ";Hemorrhage (In My Hands)"; on American Idol. The single shot up to the Top 10 download list on iTunes and stayed there for weeks. This also sparked interest in other Fuel songs, which began to appear in the Top 100 download chart on iTunes. On March 3, 2006, judge Randy Jackson stated in an interview that Daughtry had been offered the opportunity to become Fuel's new lead singer. Fuel confirmed their interest on their official website. On May 11, 2006, Fuel appeared on the TV show “Extra” to officially offer Daughtry the job. However, though flattered, Daughtry turned down this offer, but has remained close to the band.

Tickets for Friday are $15 advance, $20 day of show.

Barenaked Ladies headline in a matinee performance beginning at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 31. Barenaked Ladies (BNL or occasionally BnL) was formed in 1988 outside of Toronto. They are best known for their hit singles ";One Week,"; ";The Old Apartment,"; ";Pinch Me,"; ";If I Had $1,000,000,"; ";Brian Wilson,"; as well as the theme for the sitcom “The Big Bang Theory.” They have won multiple Juno Awards and have been nominated for Grammy Awards. They are also known for their light-hearted, comedic performance style. Their live shows are known for humorous banter between songs and improvised raps/songs, both of which are staples at virtually every concert. BNL has sold more than 15 million records.

Smash Mouth opens the Saturday concert on the 5th Street Main Stage. The band has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. Along with their No. 1 hits – “Walkin' on the Sun” and “All Star” – they have consistently impacted radio with other recognizable hits like “Then the Morning Comes,” “Can't Get Enough Of You Baby,” and a cover of The Monkees classic “I'm A Believer,” which was prominently featured on the “Shrek” soundtrack and reached No. 4.

Tickets for Saturday are $20 advance, $25 day of show.

Third Eye Blind headlines the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon concert beginning at 7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 1. Third Eye Blind is an Americanalternative rock band formed in the early 1990s in San Francisco. The band's first contract with Elektra Records in 1996 was reported as the largest publishing deal ever for an unsigned artist. [update] The band is Stephan Jenkins (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Brad Hargreaves (drums, percussion), Kryz Reid (lead guitar), Alex Kopp (keyboards), and Alex LeCavalier (bass guitar).

After the success of their eponymous debut album in 1997, the band released “Blue” in 1999. In 2003, the band released “Out of the Vein.” In 2008, the band released the digital EP “Red Star.” After a six-year hiatus from releasing a full-length album, “Ursa Major” was released in August, 2009. A fifth album is also being worked on, without a tentative release date.

Robert Randolph & The Family Band open Sunday’s concert. The band achieved national attention in 2002 “Live At The Wetlands,” considered a classic jam-band release. Their love status as a top touring act was cemented during legendary shows at Bonnaroo, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Austin City Limits. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Randolph among the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time,” generating opening act shows for Guitar Gods Eric Clapton and Carlos Santana.

Tickets for Sunday are $20 advance, $25 day of show.

For the fourth year, a limited number of VIP Experience tickets will be available to the general public for admission and VIP for Friday and Saturday 5th Street Main Stage concerts. Sunday general admission (no VIP) is included with this offer.

“The limited VIP passes are the true music fans’ ideal way to see a concert,” says Bobby Melatti, director of Beach Events that produces the Festival. “These passes provide concert viewing in an exclusive area directly in front of the stage on Friday and Saturday. VIP holders also enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, VIP-only port-a-johns, two free beers or wine, and VIP Experience and admission for Friday and Saturday concerts, plus general admission to Sunday’s concert (no VIP), for just $125 per person.”

VIP Experience tickets are available only through Ticketmaster.

Headliners on the 5th Street Main Stage are world-class artists who collectively have sold more than 50 million records and will appeal to music lovers of all types.

Friday, Aug. 30 – Daughtry, with special opening band Fuel. Tickets are $15 advance, $20 day of show.

Sunday, Sept. 1 – Third Eye Blind, with Robert Randolph &; The Family Band, presented by the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon. Tickets are $20 advance, $25 day of show.

A Passport Pin, at $35, provides admission to all three Main Stage concerts. June 28 through July19, Passport Pins are discounted at half-price through Ticketmaster and the Virginia Beach Visitor Center.

Tickets, Passport Pins, and VIP Experience Passes go on sale at 10 a.m., Friday, June 28 through all Ticketmaster outlets, including online (www.ticketmaster.com) or by phone at 800.745.3000. Children younger than 12 are free with a paid adult, not including the VIP Experience offer.

“The Verizon Wireless American Music Festival will feature almost two dozen national recording bands that will perform free on 17th Street, 24th Street, and 31st Street stages,” says Mike Hilton, director of marketing for Beach Events.

“In the next few weeks, all bands will be announced. Our goal every year is for AMF to present music for almost every preference of style,” Hilton adds.

Friday, Aug. 30

5th Street Main Stage $15 advance/$20 day of show

Show 7:30 p.m./Doors Open at 6:30 p.m.

Daughtry

Fuel

17th Street Stage (FREE)

Show 7:30 p.m./Doors Open at 6:30 p.m.

Edgar Winter

Leon Russell

24th Street Stage on the Beach (FREE)

Show 7:30 p.m./Doors Open at 6:30 p.m.

Leftover Salmon

31st Street Stage (FREE)

Show 7:30 p.m./Doors Open at 6:30 p.m.

Norman Brown

Marion Meadows

Saturday, Aug. 31

5th Street Main Stage $20 advance/$25 day of show

Show 1:30 p.m./Doors Open 12:30 p.m.

Barenaked Ladies

Smash Mouth

Opening Act TBA

17th Street Stage (FREE)

Show 7:45 p.m./Doors Open 6:45 p.m.

Modern English

Carbon Leaf

24th Street Park Stage (FREE)

Show 1 – 3:15 p.m.

KIDZBOP

Sunday, Sept. 1

5th Street Main Stage, presented by Rock ‘n’ Roll Half-Marathon, $20 advance/$25 day of show